More than 4.6 million Umrah visas have been issued till July 16 in the current year. This number is 1.1 million more than the visas issued during the same period last year, a statement issued by the Haj Ministry said on Saturday.
The study attributed the higher number this year to the higher capacity of the holy city to receive pilgrims as a result of the completion of various expansion works undertaken over the past years. Many new residential projects such as the Zamzam Tower close to the Holy Mosque have been completed the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Apart from residential projects, the road and railway works currently undertaken in the region will serve as catalysts to increase the number of pilgrims in the coming years, the study added.
The study also noted that 3 million pilgrims have already performed Umrah and returned home this year while 3,000 will be returning shortly.
source : http://abna.ir/
